Basketball training device

ABSTRACT

A basketball training device including a wheeled dolly with a pair of guide rails extending upwardly from its opposite sides. The guide rails are generally U-shaped in cross-section and open outwardly from the center of the dolly. Slidably positioned within the guide rails is a pair of elongated side members, the upper ends of which carry a transparent panel. Apertures in the guide rails and side members may be axially aligned to admit locking pins so that the height of the panel above the dolly can be adjusted by a user. A user practices the game of basketball by shooting baskets over the transparent panel. In time, the user learns to put the correct arch on his shots.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to apparatus for use ingames wherein one or more participants throw a ball through the air toachieve game objectives.

BACKGROUND OF TH INVENTION

[0002] In basketball, the greater the height or arch of a shot, thegreater the chance of a ball going in the basket. The largest possiblelanding area for a shot is a circle with an eighteen-inch diameterdefined by a basket rim. Such a landing area would be seen only by aball falling straight down from above the basket and could be achievedby a very high shot taken from almost under the basket. Most shots,however, are taken away from the basket and made at an incline. Somestudies indicate that the most effective shot angle is sixty degreesfrom horizontal whereas others suggest fifty degrees.

[0003] Deficiencies in shooting a basketball can be corrected by aconscientious player. A player that shoots entirely with his arms, handsand fingers can expect shots that possess a low arch. When the playerincorporates the upward drive of his legs and body into a shot, the shotautomatically becomes more vertical and properly arched. A shot withproper arch sees a larger landing area and has a greater chance of goingin the basket. Such a shot is also harder to block during game play.

[0004] To obtain a good shot, practice and repetition on the part of aplayer is required. To obtain a proper arch, some have proposed devicesthat a player must shoot over to make a basket. These devices have beencumbersome in their construction and difficult to adjust. They have notachieved widespread acceptance in the field or commercial success. Aneed, therefore, exists for a basketball training device ofuncomplicated construction that is easy to set up and use to enhance thebasketball shooting abilities of users of all skill levels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In light of the problems associated with the known products forteaching users to shoot a basketball, it is a principal object of theinvention to provide a basketball training device that requires that auser apply the proper arch to a shot in order to make a basket. In use,the device focuses the attention of a user on a basket. The device doesnot impede the ability of a user to see the basket; thus, the hand-eyecoordination required to make good shots is rapidly improved.

[0006] It is another object of the invention to provide a basketballtraining device of the type described that is easily moved about with agentle push from a user. The device can also be easily adjusted toaccommodate the varying heights of different users and to simulatedifferent playing conditions.

[0007] It is a further object of the invention to provide a basketballtraining device that requires few, if any, tools to set up and requiresminimal training to use.

[0008] It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements andarrangements thereof in a basketball training device for the purposesdescribed which is lightweight in construction, inexpensive tomanufacture, and dependable in use.

[0009] Briefly, the basketball training device in accordance with thisinvention achieves the intended objects by featuring a wheeled dollywith a pair of guide rails extending upwardly therefrom. Slidablypositioned within the guide rails is a pair of elongated side membersforming part of a movable barrier, the upper ends of which carry atransparent panel. Apertures in the guide rails and side members permitthe passage of locking pins so as to fix the height of the panel abovethe dolly. A user shoots baskets over the transparent panel.

[0010] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of thepresent invention will become readily apparent upon further review ofthe following detailed description of the preferred embodiment asillustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The present invention may be more readily described withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0012]FIG. 1 is a side view of a basketball training device inaccordance with the present invention.

[0013]FIG. 2 is a front view of the basketball training device of FIG.1.

[0014]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the basketball training devicepositioned between a player and a basket for basketball shootingpractice.

[0015] Similar reference characters denote corresponding featuresconsistently throughout the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0016] Referring now to the FIG., a basketball training device inaccordance with the present invention is shown at 10. Training device 10includes a wheeled dolly 12 carrying a movable barrier 14 for blockingshots made by a player 16 with a basketball 18 toward a basket 20. Byvarying the height of barrier 14, player 16 can be trained to impart theproper arch to his shots when shooting basketball 18.

[0017] Dolly 12 includes a pair of legs 22 connected at their midpointsby a crosspiece 24 in an H-shaped configuration. A pair of guide rails26 extends upwardly from the midpoints of legs 22 adjacent crosspiece24. Guide rails 26 may be U-shaped in cross-section so as to define apair of slots 28 that opens outwardly from the center of dolly 12. Apair of struts 30 connects the opposite ends of each leg 22 with thecenter of the guide rail 26 secured thereto for purposes ofreinforcement. One of a number of casters 32 is positioned beneath theends of each leg 22 so that dolly 12 can be conveniently moved over abasketball court or other supporting surface.

[0018] Barrier 14 includes a frame 34 that supports a transparent panel36 at its top. As shown, frame 34 has a pair of elongated side members38 connected at their tops and midpoints by cross members 40 and 42.Members 38, 40 and 42 define a rectangular opening within which isfitted panel 36, formed of Plexiglas or like material, in the manner ofa windowpane.

[0019] Side members 38 extend downwardly into guide rails 26 and aresupported in an upright orientation by them. When desired, side members38 can be partially withdrawn from guide rails 26 to increase the heightof training device 10. To facilitate the movement of side members 38, apair of handles 44 is fastened thereto and is positioned for slidingmovement within slots 28.

[0020] The height of training device 10 can be fixed by means of lockingpins 46 positioned in axially alignable apertures 48 and 50 provided inguide rails 26 and side members 38. Preferably, each of the guide rails26 is provided with a single aperture 48 extending from front to backabove its associated struts 30. Each of the side members 38, however, isprovided with a number of apertures 50 spaced along its length andextending from front to back that can be selectively aligned with anaperture 48.

[0021] Use of training device 10 is straightforward. First, trainingdevice 10 is wheeled onto a basketball court and positioned a desireddistance from basket 20. Then, barrier 14 is elevated to a desiredheight by lifting upwardly upon handles 44. Next, locking pins 46 areextended through aligned apertures 48 and 50 so as to fix the height ofbarrier 14. Finally, while sighting shots through transparent panel 36,player 16 shoots basketball 18 toward basket 20. By making repeatedshooting attempts, player 16 learns to increase the arch or loft ofbasketball 18 necessary to make successful shots over opposing playersunder actual game conditions.

[0022] While the invention has been described with a high degree ofparticularity, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art thatmodifications may be made thereto. Therefore, it is to be understoodthat the present invention is not limited to the sole embodimentdescribed above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within thescope of the following claims.

I claim:
 1. A basketball training device, comprising: a wheeled dollyhaving a pair of guide rails extending upwardly therefrom, each of saidguide rails being hollow and having a first transverse aperturepenetrating such; and, a movable barrier including: a frame having apair of elongated side members with upper and lower ends, said lowerends being slidably positioned within said guide rails, each of saidside members having a plurality of second transverse apertures adaptedfor selective alignment with said first transverse aperture in one ofsaid guide rails; a transparent panel being secured between said upperends of said elongated side members; and, a pair of locking pins eachbeing adapted for positioning within one pair of axially aligned firstand second transverse apertures so as to fix the height of saidtransparent panel above said wheeled dolly.
 2. A basketball trainingdevice, comprising: a wheeled dolly having a pair of guide railsextending upwardly therefrom, each of said guide rails being hollow andhaving a first transverse aperture penetrating such, each of said guiderails also having a longitudinal slot remote from said first transverseaperture; and, a movable barrier including: a frame having a pair ofelongated side members with upper and lower ends, said lower ends beingslidably positioned within said guide rails, each of said side membershaving a plurality of second transverse apertures adapted for selectivealignment with said first transverse aperture in one of said guiderails; a pair of handles each being secured to a respective one of saidelongated side members and being adapted for sliding movement within onesaid longitudinal slot; a transparent plastic panel being securedbetween said upper ends of said elongated side members; and, a pair oflocking pins each being adapted for positioning within one pair ofaxially aligned first and second transverse apertures so as to fix theheight of said transparent plastic panel above said wheeled dolly.
 3. Abasketball training device, comprising: a dolly having casters formovement and having a pair of guide rails extending upwardly therefrom,each of said guide rails being hollow and each of said guide rails alsohaving a longitudinal slot, a movable barrier including: a frame havinga pair of elongated side members with upper and lower ends, saidelongated side members being connected at their respective upper endsand midpoints by a pair of cross members, said lower ends of saidelongated side members being slidably positioned within said guiderails; a pair of handles each being secured to said lower end of arespective one of said elongated side members and being adapted forsliding movement within one said longitudinal slot; a transparentplastic panel being secured within the space bounded by said elongatedside members and said cross members; and, means for selectively lockingsaid elongated side members to said guide rails so as to selectively fixthe height of said transparent plastic panel above said wheeled dolly.